WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army Black Knights defeated Academy rival Air Force, 10-7 on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium to capture its third Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in the last four seasons.
The Black Knights (9-2) put together a 16-play, 80-yard drive that ate up 7 minutes and 11 seconds in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the 10-7 victory.
The drive included a conversion on a fourth and four where Christian Anderson executed a perfect boot to rush for seven yards and the first down to continue the drive.
The Black Knights once again faced fourth down with a fourth and goal, do-or-die moment in the game and Jakobi Buchanan muscled his way in for the one-yard score. A Quinn Maretzki extra point put the Black Knights up, 10-7.
The Black Knights got on the board first, as Quinn Maretzki converted on a 24-yard field goal attempt with 11:23 left in the second quarter, going up 3-0.
Air Force took the lead 7-3 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter as they finished off a 10 play, 87-yard drive for their one and only touchdown of the day. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels connected with Kyle Patterson for the 10-yard touchdown reception.
Down 7-3 heading into the fourth quarter, the Black Knights displayed their toughness and never-say-die attitude. Quarterback Christian Anderson, who entered the game in the second quarter in place of injured starter Tyhier Tyler never missed a beat, extending the game-winning drive on fourth down with his feet and finishing the day with 85 yards rushing on 18 carries and was also 1-for-1 passing.
Buchanan, who shared the load at b-back with starter Sandon McCoy, was outstanding on the final drive, muscling in the for the game-winning touchdown with 1:13 left in the game. He finished with 86 yards rushing on 21 carries.
The defense made key stops all day, but none bigger than two interceptions in the fourth quarter. As Air Force was driving and at the Army 40 yard line, Jabari Moore intercepted Daniels in the end zone for a touchback, his third interception of the year.
Then linebacker Arik Smith sealed the game for the Black Knights as he intercepted a tipped ball from Kwabena Bonsu with 1:05 left in the game to dash the Falcons’ hopes.
NOTES
• The Black Knights claimed the Commander in Chief’s trophy for the third time in the last four years with their 10-7 win over Air Force.
• This was the first time in program history that Army claimed the CIC trophy at Michie Stadium.
• This is the ninth time in program history that Army has claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy.
• Army is now 9-2 on season and 8-0 at home.
• This is the first time in program history that Army won eight games at Michie Stadium (opened in 1924) in a single season. It is the fourth time that the Cadets have claimed eight wins at West Point as the did so in 1922, 1916 and 1914.
• The current senior class is now the winningest class in program history, amassing 35 wins, topping the 1946 class with 34 wins.
• The Black Knights are now 24-2 at Michie Stadium dating back to the start of the 2017 season. The Cadets currently own a 10-game win-streak on their home turf.
• After coming up strong on a defensive goal-line stand in the win over Navy, Army used a fullback plunge into the end zone from Jakobi Buchanan on fourth down to lift itself over Air Force.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
HC Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening statement)
“I am so incredibly proud of our team and happy for our seniors. They captured the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the third time in their careers. They became the winningest class in program history with 35 victories. That is quite an accomplishment with the history that we have here at West Point. I’m just happy for our team. This season and this year have been a challenge for every human being on the face of this planet and our guys have had those challenges too, but there is a spirit in this team and our love for each other and this brotherhood that is uncommon. This is the best team that I’ve ever been a part of.”
(Ref.: on the 80-yard game-winning drive)
“We got ourselves in some real pickles. First, we had the first-and-15 and then the third-and-long and then a fourth-and-five. We called a boot play and Christian Anderson ran the ball and it was a huge play in the ballgame. If we turn it over there, it’s probably over. We just made some plays down the stretch. We got down there first-and-goal. A year ago, we were in the same position. It was first-and-goal from the six. We had four plays and we didn’t get it in. We threw some passes last year after we had been stuffed before that I think eight times on goal-to-go situations. This year, we got it down there and our guys had decided long before we ever got to that point that if it meant getting it in, we were going to find a way to get it in. They just battled and it wasn’t easy. They put up a fight, but we found a way. We’re just really proud about the way that drive went. It’s about the culture of this team and the way they believe. They care about each other and they came out on that drive for sure.”
RB Jakobi Buchanan
(Ref.: on his mindset going into the fourth quarter and the last drive)
“Especially on that final drive, everybody on the offense had one goal. That was to score a touchdown. After Jabari [Moore] and the defense got that pick we just had momentum and coming out of the huddle, we knew what we had to do. There’s eight minutes left and that’s perfectly what we do, have a good old-fashioned football drive and we never once flinched – even when we got to fourth down, we knew we had to convert and that’s exactly what we did.”
QB Christian Anderson
(Ref.: on what the emotion was like being able to pull this off today)
“It was really emotional after the game – I struggled to keep those emotion back, I feel like it’s just been a tough year for everybody and the way we won that game, it’s just really hard to describe the feeling that I felt after the game. I am just really proud of the whole team and how we bounced back on that last drive. It was a really magical experience.”
DB Jabari Moore
(Ref.: on what it means for him to win the CIC trophy and beat both rivals in back-to-back weeks)
“It’s an unbelievable experience and I am happy for the seniors on the team that can leave here with getting the trophy back after last year. To see the looks and emotions coming out of them after the game just made it unreal.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Black Knights await their opponent in the Independence Bowl, set for Saturday, Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La.
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